#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: Bad Luck

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. 

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up where we left off last week.

Hans, the lawyer, is with Alex, her dad, and Nick's parents at the police station. The last sentence was her dad saying he was always proud of her.

BTW, since this is a work in progress, suggestions are always welcome.

Snippet:  

Pop’s words brought a little sunshine into my miserable thoughts.

“According to the wife that wasn’t their only altercation,” Hans went on. “She said Nick and Amerson got into a shouting match at the gas station the day before yesterday.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. “Hang on. Nick doesn’t get into shouting matches with anyone.”

Hans shrugged. “When Amerson didn’t come home after work last night, she called his friends, looking for him. He still hadn’t come home this morning.”

 

And a little more: 

Hans continued. “That’s when she called the police. Deputy Dawson responded. A witness saw Nick running away from a deserted cottage early this morning. When Dawson checked, he found Amerson. Dead.”

“What time was that?” I asked. “Nick was with me most of the night.”

Maria swiveled my way. With her lips pursed, she eyed me. “I told you and Nick not to see each other before the wedding. It’s bad luck. See? Bad luck.”

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week.

#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: The Nasty Little Creep

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. 

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up after the last time I posted (2 weeks ago).

The lawyer is in with the chief of police, getting answers to why Nick was arrested. The story is written in Alex's POV, so that's her thinking at the beginning of the snippet.

BTW, since this is a work in progress, suggestions are always welcome.

Snippet: 

Why had Deputy Dawson gone into the church to arrest Nick? Why not wait until the wedding was over?

“Did the deputy have to have cause to arrest Nick?” I asked. “Evidence?”

Pop nodded. “When did the murder happened?”

We all shook our heads.

“Why Nick?” Me, again.

Nick, a few years older than Ron, never did anything to him in high school. Deputy Dawg was getting his revenge on me. That nasty, little creep. I wanted to claw his eyes out of his head, rip out his hair, knee him—

And a little more

Hans returned, cutting off my revenge fantasy. Along with a chair, he brought his father with him. I thought Pieter should go home and rest. Before I could suggest that, Hans told us what he’d learned.

“They found the body in an unused cabin, south of the Fair Winds Bed and Breakfast. The wife said Nick had threatened Amerson with physical violence.”

“But that was weeks ago,” I protested. “After I punched the guy.”

“You punched Amerson?” Pop glanced at me in admiration. “I assume you had a good reason and didn’t let your temper get away with you.”

“Po-op.”

“Of course, she did,” Maria said. “He held me at gunpoint.”

“He what?” Tony shouted.

Maria told the Pops how Amerson had stormed into the office looking for me. He’d held her hostage, waiting for me to return, and how I’d rescued her. “She was so daring. Frank, you would’ve been proud of her.”

Pop rubbed my shoulder. “I’m always proud of her.”

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week.

#WeWriWa: The Case of the Wedding Wrecker - My Perfect Day?

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. 

Sorry for being AWOL for the past few weeks. But, it's a new month, and I'm starting up again. 

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. If you haven't read the previous Alex O'Hara mysteries, I should point out it takes place in West Michigan, along the Lake Michigan shore. The Dutch settled in Michigan starting in the 1830s, most heavily on the west side of the state. My Dutch ancestors settled in the area north of Detroit. I had fun using family names for some of my characters.

To catch up: After Nick was arrested, everyone gathered at the police station. Nick's dad called the family lawyer to get Nick out of jail. The lawyer's son, also a lawyer, came, too. Hopefully, they'll get some answers.

BTW, since this is a work in progress, suggestions are always welcome.

Snippit: 

“I’d rather have Pieter,” Tony groused. “Look at him. Couldn’t even change his clothes.”

Maria turned away from me and laid her hand on his forearm. Maria, the pacifier. “You told Pieter you needed him right away. Hans is staying with Pieter because he can’t drive.”

“But I don’t know this guy,” Tony protested.

“Me, either,” Pop chimed in. “I agree with Tony.”

“Wait,” I said. “Why can’t Pieter drive? He doesn’t look well. What happened?”

 And a bit more . . . 

“He had a stroke last week. He should be in rehab,” Maria tsked. “As much as we all like Pieter, this case would be too much for him.”

Stroke? No wonder he didn’t look good. Why hadn’t I heard? We sat for several minutes. Finally, I couldn’t stand inaction. I had to get up and move. When I did, I tripped on the train. “Maria, please help me.”

Since she’d help me dress that morning, she knew how to detach the train. “Let’s get that veil off, too.”

I’d forgotten about that. Too many thoughts, so much worry.

What happened to my perfect day?

 Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week.

#IWSG: When the Going Gets Tough

 Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

June 1 (optional) question - When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

Is this an apropos question! The going hasn't been going for the past two years. Closer to three now. I can blame covid, I can blame Hubs and his illnesses. I can blame--well, anything except my own inertia and procrastination. Okay, let's call it what it really is, laziness. I hate admitting that, but that's what it is. Too lazy to open the d@mn file.

You've heard this story before. Every month??? How did I write and publish 12 novels and 2 novellas? The creative spirit was there. The desire to write, to explore, to finish. My muse whispered amazing inspiration. I was on that rare high that I didn't appreciate enough.

I've been in this place before. I remember how I got out of that slump. I wrote something wild and crazy for myself. So, you may ask, why haven't I tried that this time? I have. I wrote a short story. I write my monthly column for Paranormal Romantics. I don't miss IWSG Day. I love the two stories that are in progress. And I do write. I go along in fits and spurts. I get excited and write hundreds of words. Then, nothing.

 I'm anxious to read what the rest of you write about how you deal with this problem.

 Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.